I read with interest an article arguing that Brexit had contributed to the isolation of the United Kingdom over Ukraine, while admitting that Boris Johnson was one of the first to propose sanctions against the Russia by excluding Russian banks from the SWIFT system – which was then put into practice by the EU -, and that the United Kingdom had been the first country to give defense weapons to the Ukrainians at the beginning of the year – this which was followed as an example by other European countries. The article therefore criticized both the implementation of the Integrated Review, which aims to activate a strong diplomacy around the world, supported by partnerships; but he also saw the ‘reactivation’ of historical alliances as a weakness. Wouldn’t there be a contradiction here?
Let’s be clear: I don’t aim to root out every misconception about the UK. The goal is above all to put an end to this terrible war in Ukraine. And getting there requires collective resolve in the face of the horror that Putin has unleashed; a determination based on our common and deep attachment to peace, democracy and freedom.
Of course, the European Union plays a vital role in this, a role to which we in the United Kingdom attach great importance. That is why British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss attended the Foreign Affairs Council together with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. That is also why we have dedicated over £400 million in humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine, and redoubled our NATO reinforcements – we are doing everything in our power to show our solidarity with towards our friends, especially those on the eastern flank.
The UK supports these efforts, together with the US and others, with catalytic force. He works there within the framework of the “Quad” format (with France, the United States and Germany), as well as with the countries of the Višegrad group, but also in London with the launch of the International Support Group in Ukraine with Mark Rutte and Justin Trudeau last week, or at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting this week. Diplomacy is not a zero-sum game. It’s about bringing together as many partners as possible to build strength together. Hence the weight of the resolution of the UN General Assembly, approved by 141 States, condemning the actions of the Russian government.
Take the example of sanctions. Since the invasion of Russia, the UK has sanctioned over a thousand of Russia’s most important and valuable individuals, entities and subsidiaries. This brings the total number of people targeted to more than 800, including against 18 of Russia’s top oligarchs, whose total wealth worth more than £30billion. This has a cost for the United Kingdom, just as the European sanctions will have a cost for the French. But if our common objective is to bring punitive economic pressure to bear on the Russian regime, demonstrating that nothing – and no one – escapes the possibility of being sanctioned, I would say that the UK’s complementary sanctions packages United, and United States, and European Union, and Canada are strength.
Finally, I would like to clarify the position of the British government on this famous question of European security. I myself have worked on the Integrated Review of UK Security, Development and Foreign Policy and I would like to draw your attention to this fundamental line: “Our commitment to European security is unequivocal”. The Euro-Atlantic region remains the cornerstone of our security, and it is absurd to suggest otherwise. Outside NATO – which is not easy to say given its weight and the support of the United States – we work together, bilaterally, through the OSCE and small groups named more high to uphold our shared values, counter shared threats and build resilience in our neighborhood.
With all these examples of partnerships, active diplomacy, coordination, good faith, I hope to be able to trigger a new state of mind. The UK remains a deeply European country, as well as a global player. The success of one of our allies is the success of all of us – especially when it comes to saving lives. Steer clear of useless narratives of winners and losers – only Putin will benefit. It’s time for unity to find a way to end this hell.
Dame Menna Rawlings, UK Ambassador to France
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